Hřensko, Wild Gorge - how it was before big fire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park in July 2022.

Wild Gorge - how it was before big fire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park close to Hřensko. Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland National Park filmed in July 2022. Wild Gorge is a deep, rocky canyon of the Kamenice River which continues by the Mezní můstek Bridge on to Edmund Gorge. A path leads from the Mezní můstek Bridge to the lower boat landing, the next 450 meter long section is only passable on boats. Divoká soutěska (Wild Gorge) is Impressive natural part of a narrow gorge on the Kamenice river, partly accessible only on a punt. Flora and fauna is similar to the ones in Edmunova soutězka. In 1898 the gorge was adjusted to hiking and punts thanks to Mountain Society for Bohemian Switzerland (founded in Děčín in 1878) and to Prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen. These are the canyons that originated when the Kamenica River cut through the local sandstone. Rocks here rise up to 300 feet. The various formations, overhangs, tunnels and surrounding nature give the place almost a magical touch, one of the most magnificent places in the national park. The River Kamenica passes through two gorges, the first being Edmund’s (formerly Tichá), the second Divoká. This place is included within the yellow mark tourist trail. They are famous for more than centuries. In the past, they represented a logistical obstacle for the locals, as the transition was very complicated here. The owner of the manor, Prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen, asked the craftsmen to modify the local terrain, creating a waterway. Through both gorges, the prams have been operating since the end of the 19th century and are active also nowadays. Gorges of Kamenice, specifically Edmund’s and Divoká gorge, are like cut out of the postcard. One wouldn’t believe that we have something magnificent like this basically around the corner. Kamenice is rightly considered the most beautiful site of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Local rock formations and water flows create a beautiful symbiotic complex, so desired by tourists from home and also abroad. For tourists the gorges are best accessed from the village of Hřensko, which represents a gateway to Bohemian Switzerland. This is the entry gate for those who want to explore the beauty of this national park. From Prague, you can reach Hřensko on the D8 highway, which is part of the international European highway E55. The journey is approx. 95 miles long and takes less than two hours. However, this is only true for the ideal traffic, it can be considerably extended during the peak of the summer tourist season, and the parking lots are more crowded then as well. Almost all of them are paid. However, there are also some of them for free. The village of Hřensko operates four parking lots – Pod skalou, U Vodopádu, Mezní Louka and U čerpací stanice. The average price ranges from over 1 $ per hour to over 5 $ per day. Parking at the gas station is free, but with minimal capacity. From the village, it is necessary to follow the upstream of Kamenice for about two kilometers, and then you reach Edmund’s gorge. Here you board the pram. It sails for about twenty minutes, and then you get off. Another trail you have to take is about one and a half kilometers. The goal is to reach the Divoká Gorge, where the sailing takes about fifteen minutes. The easiest way is to go the other way in the opposite direction. So sail back through the Divoká Gorge, go to Edmund’s Gorge and return to Hřensko. However, at the very end, it is possible to continue the next three kilometers to the recreational village of Mezní Louka and then return by bus.